📖 Overview
Preston Sturges (1898-1959) was an American screenwriter, film director, and playwright who revolutionized Hollywood comedy during the 1940s. He is widely recognized as the first prominent filmmaker to establish himself as both writer and director of his works during the studio era.
Sturges wrote and directed a remarkable string of successful films between 1940-1944, including "The Great McGinty," "The Lady Eve," "Sullivan's Travels," and "The Palm Beach Story." These films were characterized by their rapid-fire dialogue, sophisticated wit, and ability to blend slapstick comedy with social commentary.
Prior to his directorial career, Sturges gained recognition as a Broadway playwright and Hollywood screenwriter in the 1920s and 1930s. His first major success came with the Broadway play "Strictly Dishonorable" (1929), and he went on to write several successful screenplays before negotiating the unprecedented right to direct his own scripts at Paramount Pictures.
Though his period of greatest success was relatively brief, Sturges's influence on American comedy remains significant. His work established new possibilities for writer-directors in Hollywood and helped create the template for the modern romantic comedy.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Sturges' wit, rapid-fire dialogue, and satirical approach to American social conventions. Many reviews highlight his intelligence, sophistication, and ability to blend slapstick comedy with social commentary.
Specific praise from readers focuses on his fast-paced banter and plot twists. On Goodreads, reviewers note that his scripts "crackle with energy" and describe his writing as "ahead of its time." Several Amazon reviews mention his stories' relevance to modern issues.
Common criticisms include plots that sometimes strain credibility and dated cultural references that modern readers may miss. Some find his humor too broad or his characters overly exaggerated.
Ratings across platforms:
- Goodreads: The Great Moment - 3.5/5 (127 ratings)
- Amazon: Three More Screenplays - 4.6/5 (14 reviews)
- IMDB: Reviews for his films average 7.5-8/10
Limited review data exists for his written works since he's primarily known for screenplays, with most reader feedback focusing on his film scripts rather than books.
📚 Books by Preston Sturges
The Power and the Glory (1933) - A stage play depicting a self-righteous industrialist who faces personal and professional challenges when his daughter becomes pregnant out of wedlock.
Strictly Dishonorable (1929) - A romantic comedy play about an opera singer and a young woman who meet in a speakeasy during Prohibition.
Child of Manhattan (1932) - A stage drama following a young dancer who becomes romantically involved with a wealthy man, leading to complications in both their lives.
The Great McGinty (1940) - A screenplay about a homeless man who rises from being a vote rigger to governor, only to lose everything due to an act of honesty.
Christmas in July (1940) - A screenplay centering on an office clerk who is tricked into believing he won a coffee slogan contest and spends money he doesn't have.
The Lady Eve (1941) - A romantic comedy screenplay about a female con artist who falls for her wealthy target, then poses as someone else to win him back after he rejects her.
Sullivan's Travels (1941) - A screenplay following a successful film director who disguises himself as a hobo to research poverty, leading to unexpected life lessons.
The Palm Beach Story (1942) - A screwball comedy screenplay about a woman who plans to divorce her husband to marry a wealthy man and help finance her husband's projects.
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944) - A screenplay about a small-town girl who can't remember marrying a soldier, but finds herself pregnant after a wild party.
The Great Moment (1944) - A biographical screenplay about Dr. William Morton, the dentist who discovered the use of ether as an anesthetic.
Unfaithfully Yours (1948) - A screenplay about a symphony conductor who suspects his wife of infidelity and imagines three different scenarios of revenge during a concert.
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949) - A western comedy screenplay about a female sharpshooter who accidentally shoots a judge and goes on the run.
Strictly Dishonorable (1929) - A romantic comedy play about an opera singer and a young woman who meet in a speakeasy during Prohibition.
Child of Manhattan (1932) - A stage drama following a young dancer who becomes romantically involved with a wealthy man, leading to complications in both their lives.
The Great McGinty (1940) - A screenplay about a homeless man who rises from being a vote rigger to governor, only to lose everything due to an act of honesty.
Christmas in July (1940) - A screenplay centering on an office clerk who is tricked into believing he won a coffee slogan contest and spends money he doesn't have.
The Lady Eve (1941) - A romantic comedy screenplay about a female con artist who falls for her wealthy target, then poses as someone else to win him back after he rejects her.
Sullivan's Travels (1941) - A screenplay following a successful film director who disguises himself as a hobo to research poverty, leading to unexpected life lessons.
The Palm Beach Story (1942) - A screwball comedy screenplay about a woman who plans to divorce her husband to marry a wealthy man and help finance her husband's projects.
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944) - A screenplay about a small-town girl who can't remember marrying a soldier, but finds herself pregnant after a wild party.
The Great Moment (1944) - A biographical screenplay about Dr. William Morton, the dentist who discovered the use of ether as an anesthetic.
Unfaithfully Yours (1948) - A screenplay about a symphony conductor who suspects his wife of infidelity and imagines three different scenarios of revenge during a concert.
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949) - A western comedy screenplay about a female sharpshooter who accidentally shoots a judge and goes on the run.